The Marvels Breaks Unfortunate MCU Record After Slow Opening Weekend

Mere days after the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike ended after 118 days, when the actors union and the AMPTP agreed to a proposal, Marvel Studios went all in for their latest film entry, The Marvels. Despite numerous negative comments and media coverage aimed at the film’s director and predominate female casting, the film was released worldwide as audiences made their way to theatres for what was forecasted to be a slow opening weekend.

While generally garnering positive reviews amongst audiences, some calling it a better follow-up to 2019’s Captain Marvel, the film has had a somewhat less favorable start to its theatrical run. Irrespective of the cast now able to fully promote the film as of 10th November 2023, this didn’t quite push the needle for its opening weekend, according to a report from Deadline.

The report has revealed that The Marvels opened in its first weekend with estimates pulling around $47 million in the US and over $63 million internationally. This will likely break an unfortunate long-standing MCU record of having the lowest-performing opening weekend for an MCU film, previously held by The Incredible Hulk in 2008.

Many factors could spell the low box office earnings in its opening weekend, including the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike coming a day before the film premiered, which hindered the cast from being allowed to promote the film. Coupled with claims of negative comments aimed towards the cast and director, another worthy consideration is Disney’s overreliance on Marvel Studios and the MCU, which has recently seen several projects pushed back to 2025 except for Deadpool 3, which will be the only MCU release in 2024.

The Marvels follows after the post-credit scene for Ms Marvel as we see Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan/Ms Marvel having their powers intertwine as they face an impossible task as the universe becomes unstable. As a new figure takes over, leading the Kree into a new revolution, who happens to possess the other Quantum Band bound to the Universal Weapon, causes an anomaly discovered by S.A.B.E.R., which Rambeau investigates.

The Marvels is now screening at theatres worldwide as of 10th November 2023. Captain Marvel, WandaVision, and Ms Marvel are available to stream on Disney+.